But the Millers, who have two young daughters, had long admired the houses built by Heritage Luxury Builders, of Northfield. They liked the traditional style of the homes and the quality of the craftsmanship.

They had even considered hiring Heritage to build a custom home, but, Greg Miller said, it would have been hard to find land, not to mention the difficulties of managing a big building project.

So when the Millers learned Heritage was building a spec house on one of their favorite streets, they started to watch the construction, driving by the house often to check on the progress.

"We looked at it and looked at it," said Greg. "When we walked inside, that was our downfall."

Looking for a new house that's fabulous and finished? No fussing with paint chips, carpet swatches, or tile samples? No waiting for contractors to call back, or even show up? Then this could be your time.

Anyone who's been paying the least bit of attention to the real estate market knows that buyers now have the upper hand. That certainly holds true for high-end buyers who want a luxury spec house--a turnkey place that's magazine perfect.

The latest crop of new North Shore houses, ready for occupancy, range from about $1 million to more than $5 million. But discounts are common, with the most expensive properties going for as much as $500,000 less than list price, agents and home buyers say.

"Buyers today are very picky," said Sharon Friedman, agent at Coldwell Banker, Winnetka South. "When they're interested in a house, they try a low-ball offer and sometimes they're successful."

Meanwhile, builders have pulled back, ratcheting down the number of spec houses they're putting up.

A lower supply of spec houses, builders say, should mean better times for them in 2007 and beyond--which might also mean less bargaining power for buyers going forward. Others say if the existing inventory isn't reduced by spring, the bargains could last much longer.

"The [spec home] market is still a little overbuilt. But inventories are going down," said Orren Pickell, chief executive at Orren Pickell Designers & Builders based in Lincolnshire. The company recently opened a showroom in Northfield with vignettes to showcase its design ideas for renovations and custom projects.

Even so, she notes, a lot of expensive houses remain available for sale.

In October, there were 127 active listings of both new and existing houses from Evanston to Lake Forest priced at $3.5 million or more, Friedman said, adding, "that's a lot of inventory."

The availability of new houses in established North Shore suburbs has made it harder lately to sell existing houses, Friedman noted. And many buyers prefer new houses, even though an old one may have a better location, or the kind of details not found in new construction.

"New houses typically win out," she said.

Here's one reason why: heated driveways.

Heritage Luxury Builders has a new house for sale at 800 Bluff Street in Glencoe. The price tag: $3.795 million.

Built on a sloping lot that could prove tricky for driving in bad weather, the house has underground coils that automatically melt snow and ice. Older houses don't have such features.

Home buyer Jeanne Morette moved several years ago from a 100-year-old house to a new spec house in Winnetka.

"I loved the old house. It had so much charm," said Morette. "But the bedrooms were small and the closets were small. We were looking for something more modern."

In Glencoe, the new Bluff Street house pays homage to the past with its French eclectic style and a European flair.

"People like the Old World look, and we want our houses to blend into these [older] neighborhoods," said Victoria Birov, attorney at Heritage, a family operation run by her mother and father, Milena and Leo Birov.

In 1990, they built their own dream house. They then started to build them for other people.

Inside the Glencoe house, custom features include a grand foyer with a huge mahogany entry door and circular staircase. There's a cherry-paneled library, state-of-the-art kitchen, and inlaid floors. A large see-through limestone fireplace serves the living and family rooms.

The sloping lot allowed for a walk-out basement, though it's hardly like a basement with its full-size windows and 10-foot ceilings.